Can Backpacks Create Health Problems?
By Lana Bandoim
You fill the kids’ backpacks with the right textbooks and healthy snacks. They add their favorite colorful highlighters and sharp pencils. However, wearing a backpack can cause multiple problems that range from muscle strain to back pain, and no amount of highlighters can fix it.
Risk of Overload
One of the biggest problems with backpacks is the risk of overload. It is easy to overstuff a bag with heavy books and large binders. Unfortunately, a heavy backpack can cause muscle strain. In addition, it can affect the natural curvature of the spine in kids. A heavy backpack can also affect balance and increase the risk of falls.
One Shoulder Problems
Many children prefer to wear backpacks on one shoulder. Although this practice makes them feel cool, it can affect their spinal health. By only using one strap of the backpack, they are more likely to lean to one side to retain their balance. This can lead to back pain, muscle strain and bad posture. It's made worse if the straps are not wide.
Pinched Nerves
Backpacks with tight straps can pinch nerves. The straps can affect nerves around the neck and shoulders. Some bags have straps around the waist, and they can also pinch nerves if they are too tight.
Dangerous Bags
Some kids underestimate the power of their heavy backpacks and can injure others. When they are playing between classes or goofing around during recess, they do not realize that a hit from a heavy backpack can be serious. Parents frequently receive notes from schools warning them about injuries from bags.
Lifting Injuries
Sometimes just lifting a backpack from the floor can create problems. Most kids do not stop and think about bending from the knees to pick up a heavy bag. Instead, they grab the backpack in a rush and never consider the pain that comes from lifting things the wrong way.
Learn to Pack Lightly
Learning to pack lightly can prevent many backpack problems. Do not let your kids stuff every book, notebook, binder and pencil in the house inside their bag. Teach them to pick the essential school items and leave the extras at home or in their lockers. Learning how to pack a bag at an early age will help them travel easier in the future. The rule of thumb: Don't pack the bag more than 10 percent of the child's weight.
If your child is experiencing pain because of a backpack, consider visiting The Joint Chiropractic. Skip appointment hassles and go to a convenient location after school. The chiropractors at The Joint can provide personalized care for kids and adults who carry heavy backpacks or are no longer able to carry heavy backpacks.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.